The EU-China relationship in a new era of global climate governance

Understanding China's political will for sustainability and conservation gains

“…withdrawing and re‐entering the Paris Agreement) and against the backdrop of evolving dynamics in US–China relations (De Graaff & Van Apeldoorn, 2018; Kristensen & Morgan, 2018)—presents an opportunity for the CPC. Taking a more prominent role on global environmental issues like climate change, including strengthening partnerships and collaborations with partners like the EU and BRICs nations (Liu et al, 2019; Petrone, 2019), would help the Chinese government develop its standing as a credible and responsible global leader at a time of geopolitical flux (Beeson & Watson, 2019; He & Feng, 2019; Xing, 2019).…”

How and why European and Chinese pro-climate leadership may be challenged by their strategic economic interests in Brazil

“…Therefore, there was a convergence between mitigation policies, business expansion and zero/low carbon targets, the opening of markets and technical and scientific training. As Liu et al ( 2019 ) argue, China and the EU have common interests in the climate agenda, especially in the renewable energy sector, and mutual cooperation means that the carbon transition represents a ‘strategic opportunity’.…”

“…Liu et al ( 2019 ) point out that in its 12th Five-Year Plan, China introduces a ‘normal new era of development’, characterized by changes in its industrial structure and emphasis on the quality of growth that should be sustainable and environmentally friendly. We observe this trend also in the case of the historical problem of European energy security, and in investments—both public and private—in the alternative energy sector.…”

“… 2 Scholars have analyzed the Chinese and European emergence as strategic partners in global governance (Belis and Schunz 2013 ; Hochstetler and Milkoreit 2014 ), their dialogues for the mutual recognition of their respective identities (Yiwei 2012 ), the Chinese positions as ‘normative engagement’ (Jinnah 2017 ), the economic competition between the EU and China (Oertel et al 2020 ) and the uncertainties of sustaining the climate regime due to domestic instabilities, such as the Brexit and the Chinese fossil fuel-intensive growth model (Liu et al 2019 ). Here we adopt another perspective in the analysis of their global roles in climate change.…”

The EU and China in the climate regime: exploring different pathways towards climate justice

“…At the same time, China and the EU are core players in the climate regime, and both have claimed to be willing to take on responsibility to lower their emissions and to tackle global climate injustices. Without their support, an effective and just regime remains impossible (Wurzel and Connelly 2011 , Hilton and Kerr 2017 , Yang 2022 , Liu et al 2019 ).…”